Divinization

“A sure warrant for looking forward with hope to the deification of human nature is provided by the incarnation of God, which. makes man god to the same degree as God Himself became man. For it is clear that He who became man without sin (cf. Heb. 4:15) will divinize human nature without changing it into the divine nature and will raise it up for His own sake to the same degree as He lowered Himself for man’s sake. This is what St Paul teaches mystically when he says, ‘. . . that in the ages to come He might display the overflowing richness of His grace’ (Eph. 2:7).“
St. Maximos the Confessor
Various Texts on Theology
The PhilokaliaVolume 2

The concept of divinization is somewhat foreign in western Christian thought. We often think about sanctification as the process by which we become holy. In the contemplative tradition, many of the spiritual fathers talk about the process of divinization or the way in which we move back to our created state. All of this is possible through the incarnation of Jesus Christ who provided the means and way for the creation to move back toward God. This Easter season we celebrate the great gift of God’s love for us. Throughout Easter let us celebrate our connection to our creator and contemplate on the radical love, forgiveness, hope, and grace found in Jesus Christ. The process of divinization begins with our contemplating these mysteries and then realizing our connection to the God who created us and loves us.